Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

Ingenious lights for portable confessional

The Sacrament of Penance has been devastated far and wide due to decades of neglect from bishops and priests.   However, in some places it is being revived.  Young priests especially are giving it some new impetus and some bishops … Read More

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“Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch, and be sober.”

In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest. “Why not come … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Was it right to leave a “Mass” with a string of serious abuses?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Thank you for your Priesthood! I have a question about the validity of a Mass. My mother was in town for Mother’s Day and we went to Mass on Sunday (Novus Ordo). I am far from … Read More

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23 Comments

ASK FATHER: Blessing of olive oil and incense

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Hello Father, I would like to start occasionally using incense at home for my private devotions as well as lighting a couple oil vigil lamps by icons hanging on my walls. Do you have any blessings … Read More

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14 Comments

ASK FATHER: Obligations and Daily Mass

From a reader… QUAERITUR: For those in the lay apostolate that committed to go to daily Mass: is it better to go to a daily Mass full of violations of rubrics that maybe even exhibits a different understanding of what the Mass … Read More

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15 Comments

ASK FATHER: Do we violate obligations to territorial parish by attending Mass elsewhere?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My family and I are members of the territorial parish that we live near, attend Mass regularly there, and are involved in social events in the parish as well. On occasion, however, we attend Mass at … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Going to another diocese of First Communion and Confirmation

From a reader… My wife and I live in the Diocese of ___ and are devotees of the Extraordinary Form of the Holy Mass. Unfortunately, there are no viable EF Masses available in the Diocese on a regular basis, so we … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Eucharist carried into space for astronaut on the ISS. Self-communication? – UPDATE

UPDATE 5 May 2016: Since today is seems appropriate to talk about “going up”… From a priest: This authorization for receiving the Holy Eucharist in space is pretty long-standing at this point. Astronaut Tom Jones mentions the Eucharistic service conducted … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged ,
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Of weasles, egg salad, broken teeth, blessed salt, and YOU

A weasel can chew through a cable and knock out a particle accelerator, but I can’t chew through an egg salad sandwich. I had what might be called a “dental emergency”.  I knocked off the distal cusp of a mandibular molar.  Thus, pulling … Read More

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30 Comments

ASK FATHER: Dressing for weekday Masses

From a reader… For Sundays and holy days, I always wear suit and tie (Sunday best!). One priest made a rule that all the guys at church had to wear a tie, so I followed. Aside from dressing immodestly, does it matter what … Read More

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33 Comments